As Gusion descended the mountain, the Demon Slayer Corps support arrived—far too late to fight, only to worry about putting out the fire.
Given the era's technology, with the fire this big, it would most likely have to burn itself out.
Gusion knew a few water-spraying demon arts, but they were too soul-resource intensive—he wouldn't waste them helping locals put out a forest fire in a dangerous mission world.
"Gusion-senpai~~"
As he neared the mountain's base, a yellow-clad figure leaped at him. Gusion caught Zenitsu's face, handling him with practiced ease.
"How are your injuries?"
He straightened Zenitsu, asking both him and the others, including Sound Hashira Uzui Tengen.
"Not bad, we'll live. Since you're down, that means it's over up there, right?" Uzui replied weakly.
"Damn it…!" Zenitsu looked at Uzui enviously—after they'd come down the mountain, three wives had found Uzui and were tending his bandages.
"It was close, but I killed all the demons on the mountain," Gusion said, scanning the forest for Tamayo and Yushiro, who were still hiding well.
"At least everyone's safe, but it's a shame about those who died up there..." Tanjiro was happy they'd survived and the Upper Moons had been defeated, but saddened by the fallen slayers.
"Lord Gusion is amazing! I heard it was Upper Five and Lower One this time, and they still weren't a match for you!" Suma gushed, only to be scolded by Makio.
"Thank you again, Lord Gusion. If not for your timely arrival, we'd never have seen Lord Tengen again," Hinatsuru said with a bow, always the most mature and polite of the three.
Gusion waved it off. "It's my duty to slay demons—I just happened to be here."
He turned to Uzui. "Are you really okay?"
Uzui had lost a lot of flesh to Gyokko's catfish, and even his organs were injured. If Gusion hadn't used Kaido on him, he'd likely have died before making it down the mountain.
But even his arts weren't a cure-all. Gyokko's Blood Demon Art was also poisonous—not as deadly as Gyutaro's, but enough to kill an already weakened Uzui.
If not for his childhood poison resistance training, he'd be dead by now.
"Lord Tengen's been poisoned; we don't know how to cure it. We want to take him back to the ninja village," Hinatsuru said worriedly. She knew about poisons but lacked the right herbs.
"If you don't mind, I can take a look," came a voice from the woods.
All eyes turned to see two figures emerge from the darkness.
Hinatsuru and the others tensed instantly, sensing these were demons—and prepared to attack.
"Relax, these two aren't evil demons. I brought them to the Corps HQ; the Oyakata-sama approved it. You'll get orders soon," Gusion interjected.
The women were doubtful but trusted Gusion, lowering their blades.
But one hothead remained: "There's no such thing as a good demon, I don't believe it!"
A boar-masked boy with twin swords charged Tamayo and Yushiro.
He leaped, blades descending on Tamayo's neck.
Bang—
But Gusion was faster—no one saw him move, but he kicked Inosuke into a tree, knocking off his mask and revealing a beautiful, feminine face.
Inosuke, dazed, found his waist strangely unhurt. "You're strong! Fight me!"
Tanjiro, rushing to help, held him back. "Inosuke! What are you doing? Gusion-san is a Hashira, he just saved us!"
Inosuke's slow mind spun—he'd just followed Tanjiro up the mountain, heard a whisper, fell asleep, and woke up at the base.
"Hashira? What's that? Is it tasty?"
Zenitsu was stunned. "You don't even know what a Hashira is? How did you join the Corps?"
Zenitsu explained: "Hashira are the strongest swordsmen; my senpai is the Thunder Hashira, the strongest with Thunder Breathing!"
Inosuke nodded solemnly. "He is strong—one kick sent me flying, but it didn't hurt."
"Since Gusion-senpai says these two aren't evil, it's fine. But you shouldn't just attack like that."
Zenitsu rarely got to scold Inosuke. He'd been beaten up for defending Nezuko, but since meeting her, he believed there could be good demons.
Besides, this female demon was quite...mature and beautiful.
"Yushiro, fetch my medicine kit," Tamayo said, ignoring the children's squabbles, and went to examine Uzui. "His injuries are serious—he needs a blood transfusion. Who has his blood type?"
"Blood type?" Everyone but Gusion was confused.
Tamayo explained, "Blood types are blood with the same properties; only people with the same type can transfuse blood to each other."
Yushiro returned quickly with the kit.
Tamayo took out reagents. "Since you don't know, we'll have to test here. Hopefully someone matches."
Gusion admired Tamayo—blood types weren't discovered until 1900 by an Austrian pathologist. The knowledge shouldn't exist here, but Tamayo had figured it out through centuries of medical practice.
She quickly tested everyone. One of Uzui's wives matched. Tamayo deftly began the transfusion.
During the process, she took a blood sample from Uzui to analyze the toxin, and then mixed an antidote. Within five minutes, she injected him, and Uzui's color improved.
Her skill and kindness won over everyone, even the originally hostile Uzui.
"You're amazing, old hag! You fixed the big guy right up," Inosuke exclaimed, watching Tamayo in awe.
Yushiro bristled: "Hey! Don't call Lady Tamayo 'old hag'—she's still young and beautiful, not even sixt—"
"Yushiro," Tamayo's gentle smile cut him off, making Yushiro shiver and fall silent.
Everyone felt a chill. Tanjiro and Zenitsu were baffled.
"Idiot, you never discuss a woman's age," Uzui said, looking at Tamayo. "Thank you, my lady. I trust the Thunder Hashira and the Oyakata-sama. When we reach HQ, let's fight flashy together."
After this brief interlude, the group grew more relaxed.
Gusion approached a box on the ground. "There's a demon's aura in here."
Hearing this, Tanjiro rushed over to block him. "Gusion-san, please let me explain!"
Zenitsu followed. "Senpai, don't be rash, listen!"
Uzui also spoke up for Nezuko, "You saw it—this demon girl fought alongside us."
He'd intended to kill Nezuko at first, but after seeing her fight with the Corps, he accepted her.
Gusion smiled. "I'm not the type to kill indiscriminately just for being a demon. Why so nervous?"
Everyone but Zenitsu and Tanjiro silently thought, You sure about that?
The box shook, and a small girl with a bamboo muzzle emerged—mini Nezuko.
She looked at Gusion, tilting her head. Her instincts told her he meant no harm.
"She's my sister. Though a demon, she's never eaten a person and fights beside us. She's not evil—please, don't hurt her," Tanjiro explained.
He'd admired Gusion since their first meeting. When Gusion was promoted to Hashira, Tanjiro and Zenitsu had celebrated.
"Relax, I saw her fight with you. When the Hashira meeting happens, I'll speak for you."
Tanjiro bowed gratefully. He knew having a demon sister would cause a stir in the Corps, but with Uzui and Gusion's support, maybe it wouldn't be too bad.
"There are demons like this? Tell me more," Tamayo said, curious. She sensed Nezuko was not under Muzan's control.
Hearing this, Tanjiro brightened—Tamayo was a demon doctor. Maybe she could cure his sister!